How often have you heard people saying "don't wait for better times, enjoy now", "you have all you need to be happy right now, don't wait to be happy, be happy right now" and "be grateful for what you have, you don't need anything more"? Sounds familiar? It sounds familiar to me, and I think in some way, it's even true.
Is that the whole truth then? If you think about what you have now, isn't that a result of wanting more in the past? Isn't that a long and short time period goals being achieved? Should we all just be happy with what we have and not try to achieve more, not want more, stay stuck in this moment and not move forward, not work and wait for something even better? The good advice doesn't sound that good anymore if we put it that way...
I absolutely agree that we should be grateful for what we have, many people don't have that. We have drinkable tap water, social security, transportation, healthy food, easy food access and daily safety as examples to be mentioned. However, these are achievements of people who wanted more, worked for it and made these things happen. Should we stop here? Hell no. We have so many problems to solve and imperfections to improve! Pure energy sources, curing cancer, stop global warming, stop wars and hunger in this world and the list goes on. So, let's just be happy with what we have, enjoy ourselves and not pursue the better world? Again, no.
Seven years ago, I and my husband lived in a studio for more than two years. We absolutely loved that time and our little studio. We were very happy there and we often talk about how nice it was to live there. However, we moved into a bigger apartment with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and so on. Now, after seven years in our bigger apartment, would I move back into a studio? I couldn't even think about it... Even though it was very nice there, I would never go back. To be honest, I'm dreaming about moving again. I want a bigger apartment with our own backyard, an open-concept-kitchen, and a fireplace. Is that wrong not to be settled with what I have? Is that only greed?Things are well after all and our current apartment is good, so why I need more?
I think that this drive and needing more is just natural for a human being. Just imagine a situation that there is no vaccination at all in this world and people are dying from smallpox, diphtheria, and measles. Suddenly, a group of researchers discovers a vaccination for smallpox. Without the natural need for more, we would just be satisfied that we have a vaccination for smallpox, be happy with it and let people die from diphtheria and measles. Does that sound right?
So, there is nothing wrong with being happy with what you have. In fact, we should be happy and grateful. Just remember that there are many great things to achieve to make your life and other peoples lives better.
Lindiry
